Vision for Oslo-inspired MediaCity endorsed
Proposals for up to 3,200 more homes and an additional 800,000 sq ft of commercial floorspace, which aim to position the mixed-use scheme as a world-leading waterfront, have been backed by Salford City Council.
An updated regeneration framework for MediaCity, which responds to shifting market trends, was signed off by the city council’s cabinet this morning after a period of public consultation last year.
The overarching plan for the next chapter of MediaCity is inspired by the renowned waterfronts of Oslo and Sydney, according to Landsec and Peel, which own the scheme.
“The re-shaped regeneration proposals will support us in delivering a world-class destination where people will want to live, work and learn for many years to come,” said Stephen Wild, MediaCity managing director.
“As the home of future media, MediaCity’s output is global and its environment needs to reflect its international significance. While the waterfront is the gateway to MediaCity and the Quays, it’s right that it should compete with some of the finest waterfront destinations in the world.”
The updated framework outlines what could be delivered next at the 53-acre site – which is already home to 1.4m sq ft of offices and more than 1,100 homes.
A consultation on the proposals was held last year. The response was 75% positive, according to the city council.
A report to Salford’s cabinet states that the framework “incorporates all of the lessons learned throughout the past 10 years, meets the economic challenges post-pandemic, and seeks to create a critical mass of people who live, visit, and work in the area.”
Drawn up by Deloitte, Prior and Partners, and TTHC, the framework proposes an increase in both homes and offices compared to earlier plans.
A pair of residential buildings could be built close to Quayside. Credit: Prior & Partners
In 2016, proposals for 555,000 sq ft of offices and 1,800 homes at MediaCity were signed off, some of which has already been delivered.
The revised vision would see a net increase of 2,000 homes and 375,000 sq ft of commercial space compared to the 2016 plan.
The first element of the next wave of development at Media City to be delivered would be the 300,000 sq ft office on plot C3, which already has planning approval.
The vision for the waterfront proposes “new and flexible, all-weather glass-fronted structures and pavilions”, according to the partners. A pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside also features in the plans.
A boardwalk and link bridge along the MediaCity waterfront would provide space for people to congregate, while the existing piazza will be activated year-round.
Mike Hood, chief executive of LandsecU+I, the regeneration arm of Landsec, said: “Since its inception, MediaCity has been at the forefront of creativity. These proposals give us the opportunity to take the next step with its evolution, as we continue to focus on how MediaCity can showcase the future of entertainment, living, experience and innovation.”
Introduce free parking to compete with the Trafford centre
By Dan
Needs something its soulless
By Anonymous
@Dan There’s plenty of free cycle parking. Why would we want to attract more drivers to an already congested road network? More buses and trams are what’s needed.
By Albert
Places that have free parking are rarely worth visiting
By Anonymous
Marketing teams really ought to stop going with the ‘world-class’ mantra for such schemes – it is possible to be mightily impressive and aspirational without saying you’re going to bring Darling Habour to the North West of England..
By Anonymous
It’s a very flat looking skyline… why not quadruple the height of the buildings in the middle, create a triangular skyline and add several thousand more apartments? The area can be quite dead in the evenings and a lot of bars/restaurants and retail shops struggle, so why not add 10,000 apartments instead of 3,200? It would definitely create a more vibrant area and ensure the shopping centre, lowry, gyms and restaurants are sustainable (profit-wise) businesses. This would ensure the success of the area going forward.
By MC
Albert, you’re 100% wrong
By Dan
Always thought that the schlep across the Plaza to the Lowry could do with more animation. The addition of more residential to the Lowry Outlet can only be a good thing too!
By Fantastic
As I said the Trafford Centre, the North West’s most popular shopping destination for middle class families, has free parking, so definitely worth visiting, the Lowry Centre, dead, not worth visiting
By Dan
The Quays could be so much better with more density. I side with the cynics on it having a lack of soul, it’s rather desolate in parts.
Get the lido engineers in.
By Turtle dove
Should align with plans for Trafford Wharf side plans, to optimise vistas, economic zoning and walking routes
By Mark
Great plans, bring em on. This can join the planned developments around Old Trafford opposite. Incredible change over the past 20 yrs , let’s see what the next 20 bring.
By Ace
@March 26, 2024 at 2:53 pm
By Dan
In what why is Albert wrong? Please elaborate.
By Anonymous
Lots of words from landsec but very little action since they bought into Manchester… Chop chop…
By Bob Monkhouse
No surprise your critics choose to remain anonymous.
No one can face the truth: blocks of flats scream soul-less 1970s. Did someone say ‘homes’? Guffaw
By Mike Scantlebury
What’s the need for this bridge? Other than to annoy the alchemist lol
By Levelling Up Manager
Current resident in Media City and good luck to anyone driving, the roads are already absolutely packed at weekends and when theres a football match on. There isn’t the infrastructure for more residential accommodation, plus a lot of the new ones we do have are struggling to sell as they’re so expensive
By Anonymous
Albert is wrong when he says we don’t want to attract more cars. We do, we want families to come, we want business and a strong local economy, more trams and buses would be pointless, they are not busy as it is
By Dan
‘ blocks of flats scream soul-less …blah blah blah’ ….some people need to climb out of the 1970’s ! if you want suburbs you go further out , you want density you build apartments…like every city in the world, you want countryside head in any direction for 10 miles or so there’s loads of it. You want water ..head west till your hat floats. Its choice, people decide where they live and what they want.
By Johnny Rantypants
@March 27, 2024 at 11:51 am
By Dan
I suggest you read the latest Create Streets report Stepping off the Road to Nowhere. It debunks your assertions.
By Anonymous
Dan says not enough people, others say too many you can’t get parking some days. What we do need then is more development with integrated transport and more parking too… yaay..!!! sounds like that’s what they’re doing,
By Anonymous
Oslo looks dead, even Liverpool waterfront is better than that. However, Sydney has a beautiful skyline and waterfront, if media city could do that it would be amazing, it would look the piece on tv. It would attract a lot of attention and tourism, just like how many people go to canary wharf to have a wonder around. The limelight is on manchester as it is, everyone comes here to see things and eat at nice places, people like to see beautiful things and do fun things in those areas, we need more of that in media city. As well as to attract media companies to want to move to media city. Having a beautiful waterfront and towers/skyscrapers gives of the image to potential businesses clients that it is a successful area and that if they move there it will be good for networking, for the business and for attracting professionals who will want to stay. It creates a powerful image for any business situated there.
By Anonymous
Salford Quays is like a water desert, there is little or no activity on the water itself. What the quays needs is boats and lots of them. House boats, cafe boats, leisure boats, museum boats etc. Most of all it could do with a living water based community. I can only imagine that the lack of boats at the quays has been a policy by Peel and or the Council. The blank grey stretches of water need movement, colour, noise.. as it stands it is sad and bleak. There is an enormous amount of space available. Bring on a new water town.
By Anonymous